Common Uses of MRI Scan?

MR imaging of the body is performed to evaluate the following :

• Organs of abdomen and chest—including the heart, liver, biliary tract, kidneys, spleen, pancreas, and adrenal glands.
• Pelvic organs ― the bladder and the reproductive organs such as the uterus and ovaries in females and the prostate gland in males.
• Blood vessels and lymph nodes.

Doctors use an MRI scan examination to help diagnose or monitor conditions such as:

• Tumors of the chest, abdomen or pelvis
• Heart problems
• Liver disease, such as cirrhosis, and abnormalities of the bile ducts and pancreas
• Inflammatory bowel disease
• Malformations of the blood vessels and inflammation of the vessels
• A fetus in the womb of a pregnant woman

MRI Scan Preparations

Very little preparation is required prior to an MRI scan. You will be asked to wear a gown. As magnets are used in the MRI scanner, no metal objects must be present in the scanners. The doctor will ask the patient to remove all metal jewelry and all types of accessories that can interfere with the MRI scan procedure. Individuals cannot go for an MRI scan if they have any metal objects inside their body, such as bullets, shrapnel, cochlear implants, pacemakers, etc. Some MRI scan uses an injection of contrast liquid (gadolinium) to improve visibility of some specific tissue that may be relevant to the scan. You must inform the technologists if you are claustrophobic. In such cases, the doctor recommends mild sedative prior to the MRI scan to make the procedure more comfortable. Women should always tell their doctor and technologist if they are pregnant or planning to get pregnant. There might be a risk of harm for the fetus during an MRI scan.

MRI Scan Procedure

As soon as the patient enters the MRI scanning room, the technician or doctor will ask you to lie on the table. An MRI scanner is a short cylinder open from both sides. You will enter the MRI scanner either from the head or from feet, depending on the part that is being scanned. A computer is used to operate the MRI scanner. The computer is placed in a different room to keep it away from the magnetic field generated by the MRI machine. The radiologist will communicate with you via an intercom to guide you and to make sure you are comfortable. Sometimes, a contrast material is used intravenously during the MRI exam majorly gadolinium or iodine contrast (In MRI with Contrast). More images will be captured during or following the injection. When the MRI scan is complete, you may be asked to wait while the radiologist checks the images in case more are needed. The technologist will remove your IV (Intravenous) line after the exam is over. The entire MRI procedure may take 30-60 minutes.

Time Taken For MRI Scan Reports

After the completion of the MRI scan examination, the computer generates visual pictures of the areas that were scanned. These pictures can be transferred to a hard copy (film). The radiologist interprets the MRI images in the form of a report. A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan procedure lasts 15 to 90 minutes depending on the body part being scanned and the number of images being taken. MRI Reports will be available within 24-48 hours of the procedure in the maximum cases.

Benefits of MRI Scan

• A noninvasive and painless imaging technique that does not involve exposure to radiation.
• MRI images of the soft-tissue structures of the body, such as the heart, liver, and many other organs are likely to identify more accurately to characterize diseases than other imaging methods.
• A valuable tool in diagnosing a broad range of conditions, including cancer, heart disease, muscular and bone abnormalities, and many more.
• MRI scan allows healthcare providers or physicians to assess the biliary system noninvasively and without contrast injection.
• MRI Scan provides a noninvasive alternative to x-ray, angiography, and CT for diagnosing problems of the heart and blood vessels and various other body parts.
• MRI Scan can detect deformities that might be unclear by bone with other imaging methods.

MRI Appointments, Duration & Waiting

MRI Scans at Deewan  Diagnostics are offered on a first come-first serve basis. Often, as the factors listed below may change from one study to the next, getting a MRI scan often involves a waiting time, as the exact length of your procedure and that of the patients before you, often also depends on the patient’s conditions and cooperation.

If your question is how long should an MRI take, Please note that several factors can together determine the time required for MRI Scan.

• Procedure: Depending on procedure, MRI Scan time may vary – a routine MRI Brain should typically be completed in less than 15 minutes, whereas a MRI Multiparametric Prostate with Contrast may require over 60 minutes of MRI planning and sequences.
• Patient Movement: If a patient is unable to lie straight and moves during the MRI procedure and moves during the procedure, it may warrant for restart in partial sequences which could cause the time for the MRI to be extended from, say 15 minutes to even 40 minutes.
• Patient-Specific Detailing: Frequently if findings in the study require additional detailing, the technician in charge may observe and conduct a few additional minutes of detailing to better help the doctors detail the findings of the case.